Pampered for Prom

March 30, 2013

HOUGHTON - This spring local businesses have joined together to make prom night special for four local girls. Pampered for Prom, organized by Salon Benefique and Photos by Freya, offers two girls from area high schools and a friend each the opportunity to win a grand prize pampering package including a photo shoot, salon package, corsage and gift certificate from a local restaurant.

"We have been doing an All A's promotion every semester where any student in grades 3-12 who gets all A's on their report card can bring it into the salon and then the student and a parent get a free haircut," said Stephen Gostlin of Salon Benefique. "It has gotten a great response from community and we were looking for more ways to reward excellence in youth."

Instead of giving away products, they decided to hold a contest.

"We thought 'What can we do in spring? Prom!'" he said.

They decided to hold an essay contest in which high school girls who are eligible to attend prom at the participating schools of Calumet, Lake Linden, Hancock, Dollar Bay, South Range and Jeffers can submit a one-page essay explaining why one of their classmates deserves to be pampered for prom.

The criteria for why someone should nominated is largely left to the individual writing the essay, but can include anything from academic or scholastic excellence, to someone who performs community service, or someone who is just plain nice, Gostlin said.

They would like to recognize the outstanding youth in the community as well as help negate some of the costs associated with prom.

"It's not cheap for young ladies who have to pay for a dress, hair, make-up and all the other stuff," he said. "We are hoping to help someone who could benefit from lowering the cost of prom."

Both the subject of the essay and the essay writer win the grand prize and are invited to ask a friend to join them during their day of pampering.

The salon package, provided by Salon Benefique, includes hair, cosmetics, manicures and pedicures. It will be followed by a professional photo shoot from Photos by Freya, who will bring the equipment to the salon. The girls will also receive corsages and dinner gift certificates courtesy of local businesses.

Submissions are due Monday. The winners will be contacted by telephone and announced on Pampered for Prom's Facebook page, salon benefique's Facebook page and Photos by Freya's Facebook page on Wednesday.

More information about rules and how to enter can be found on Pampered for Prom's Facebook page.